A short sigh escaped Cediloy’s lips. Despite Jemero being a clever young man, and even though he was considered a remarkable talent cherished by the king, he was still just a youth not yet in his thirties in the eyes of the nearly eighty-year-old Jemero. Despite his sharp nature, Cediloy thought that there were still many immature aspects about him. Besides, his character was not particularly cunning.

“Your face is saying more than words, Jemero. You investigated the Negrian herbalists, but I wonder if you succeeded in obtaining useful information.”

Jemero saw through Cediloy’s feelings. Even though he was a bright young man, and even though he was considered a remarkable talent cherished by the king, he was still just a youth not yet in his thirties in the eyes of the nearly eighty-year-old Jemero. Despite his sharp nature, Cediloy thought that there were still many immature aspects about him.

“Negrian is like a maze. But there were a few streets where herbalists gathered. By systematically searching those places, I narrowed down three locations that seemed likely to be used by Jocelyn.”

“How did you narrow it down?”

A moment of sharp and sarcastic mockery passed through the face of the aging Jemero.

“I separately picked places where walls were built. The fact that a wall was erected to conceal a house implies a high probability of hiding something secretive inside, wouldn’t you agree?”

Cediloy nodded.

“Reasonable. Continue.”

“I identified the owner of the herbalist’s place with a built wall and simply asked like this.”

Jemero posed only this question without providing any other explanations. If there were people who looked puzzled and asked, ‘What does that mean?’ or ‘How long has the person been coughing?’ he apologized for his intrusion and left.

However, the owners of the three places immediately burst into meaningful laughter upon hearing Jemero’s strange question.

They were the people who immediately grasped the meaning hidden in Jemero’s words.

In other words, he judged that they were likely to have received similar requests before and were still making such medicine. A medicine that did not cure but silenced a person, a medicine that only kept the mouth shut forever.

Cediloy said, “Can you bring those three people here discreetly?”

Jemero, with a narrowed forehead, thought carefully for a moment before cautiously nodding.

“That would be difficult, Your Grace. If it were one person, it might be possible, but bringing all three at the same time would be challenging. Even if we bring them one by one, rumors might spread.”

Cediloy clenched his fist and remained silent. After being lost in thought for a while, he asked Jemero again.

“Have you recorded the locations of the herbalists?”
“Of course.”

“Then, I’ll go myself.”

Jemero’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was rare to see such a bewildered expression on Jemero’s usually composed face. However, Cediloy, even after seeing his expression, had no intention of retracting his words.

After hesitating, Jemero finally spoke.

“Your Grace, I understand your feelings, but I cannot agree.”

“Jemero, I didn’t ask for your approval or disapproval.”

Although his response was firm, a restless weariness was evident in Cediloy’s expression. Knowing this, Jemero could no longer oppose and could only sigh.

Cediloy, seemingly forgetting that Jemero was present, murmured to himself as if conversing with silence.

“Now, we need to end this.”

Jemero agreed with that sentiment. It had been nearly four years since Cediloy began harboring doubts about the deaths of Verbou and Liria. However, doubts clouded the mind like clouds, and with no evidence, it was unclear where to start.

If Cediloy were a cruel person, he could have confined and tortured Jocelyn the moment he began suspecting her. He could have insulted and even killed her if she didn’t confess, claiming to have avenged the vengeance of his siblings. If he had done so, who could have dared to oppose Cediloy?

But Cediloy was not such a person. His nature was tender and considerate. Despite holding a position of power and receiving the favor of the king, he always treated others with respect.

There was a time when Cediloy criticized himself for suspecting Jocelyn for so long. It was because of the warm care he received from her during his childhood. Grateful for the care he received from her, he became the head of the household when he lost his parents and returned to the Duchy, managing the mansion immaculately and waiting for her with gratitude.

However, during that time, Cediloy slowly fell ill. It wasn’t an illness in the literal sense, but Jemero could see that something in his heart was gradually darkening.

Was Cediloy the only one feeling this way? Ariante felt the same. The only child left behind by Verbou and Liria. By facing the suspicious deaths of both at once, Ariante became Cediloy’s daughter and the young lady of Baltermine.

Jocelyn cunningly isolated Ariante from people. Jemero noticed it only when Ariante was almost five or six years old. Since Jocelyn practically commanded the employees, he had assumed the role of a forest ranger, so to speak.

Moreover, Jemero had somewhat complacently thought that, while being wary and suspicious of Jocelyn, it would be unthinkable for him to harm a child who was not even ten years old.

It was all a misconception, though…

Cediloy spoke again.

“We need to remove the dusty curtains. Only then can we properly see what’s outside. Whether the light on the window is a gloomy darkness or a bright day, or perhaps a menacing storm in the middle of it all, no one knows. But whatever it is, to know the ending, we must remove the curtains.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

“The forester?”

“He will arrive at the duke’s residence within three days.”

Jemero nodded. At that moment, someone knocked on the door of the living room where they were.